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Ustaad Inner circle Iindia - States 6157 Posts |
Not touching upon the sensitive topics of ethics & piracy, I would say -
There isn’t going to be many takers on this. At an average one is likely to receive only two consignments in a month which is not a very viable solution. Imagine, considering that you take the best value plan, you pay approx $9 per DVD (just to preview the DVD). Moreover, each & every time you receive a DVD, it's an hassle shipping it back. Instead one can purchase an original DVD in excellent condition at the Café's 'Buy-n-Sell' for an average price of $15 post paid. And the DVD is for yours to keep. If you don't like the DVD you can re-sell it at the same price + you pay approx $2 for the postage (media mail). So technically you have previewed the DVD for a paltry sum of $2. The only disadvantage being that one has the wait for the right offer at the Café's 'Buy-n-Sell'
MAGIC is a SECRET, without the SECRET there is no MAGIC.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke. |
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shek Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 244 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-29 03:32, Ustaad wrote: I agree that this doesn't seem to be a very viable option for some people...I think this is mainly based on location though. If you live in say...PA (where I believe the company is based) you will probably get the DVD's in 2 days. Assuming you watch it in one day and immediately mail it back (another 2 days), you would be able to complete the cycle in 5 days. So you would be watching about 6 DVD's per month. This is about $3.33 per DVD. Obviously if you live further away, the price per DVD increases significantly. Again, I am not advocating using this service, as I do think it is unethical...however, I don't think people will completely dismiss this solution. |
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tdowell Inner circle 1050 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-29 03:32, Ustaad wrote: I agree with Ustaad completely. This is expensive folks. You are not guaranteed to get the DVD you want unless it is available when you order it or you wait. You have to wait for the item to ship, and you don't get the new stuff until the old stuff comes back. The profit here is based on the subscription fee and the averages that someone will actually take full advantage of it. This is not going to lure a lot of takers at $200+ a year. I can think of a lot of videos I could own for $200, especially if you resell some. Law of First Sale is very limited here. IT IS ILLEGAL TO COPY THE MATERIAL, EVEN TO A COMPUTER DRIVE OR TO TRANSFER ANY COPYRIGHT MATERIAL BETWEEN COMPUTERS OR VIA INTERNET, EVEN IF YOU OWN THE ORIGINAL. So if your thinking about keeping a copy so you have time to digest your rental or to show a buddy, or, worse yet, sell, that clearly is illegal. So you have to plan to watch your videos quick if you want to maximize your value on this. I personally like to own a DVD, have time to watch it, and keep it if it is something really good - Why waste your money renting the Vernon Chronicles or Visions of Wonder, these are videos to hold and savor. Sites like the Café' are the best information on what videos to buy and which ones to stay away from. So it seems a little bit wasteful to rent something you already know is good or bad from the reviews it gets. Also as Usstad points out, you can buy and sell here often for a few bucks out of pocket. Time will tell if this is even profitable for the renters. Overhead costs, postage, and inventory management can chew up a lot of profit. We shall see. |
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Dominic Reyes Inner circle Got to a gig too early so wrote his 1429 Posts |
In many ways what the 'magic castle' is doing, is also unethical in my opinion. I've been to magic lectures at several clubs where people quitly say that they will not purchase the perfromers lecture notes, as its going to be in the library of the club anyway. However, there is a difference. The clubs are not doig this for profit off the creators backs. They are not charging for the 'rental service'. A creator should be able to request that their work is not treated in this manner. If its a good club, it should and would respect this.
This business model is in my opinion just exploitation of peoples work, to make money for the person running that type of business. They don't ask permission to make money off the backs of other magicians in this way. They ignore the request on the actual product staing 'NOT FOR RENTAL' Another point is that, which a regular purchase of a trick or DVD, you carefully select what you want ( hopefully visiting a bricks and morter shop first to talk about it with a professional magician ) then invest in the item. If your young, you save up for the dvd and get that anticipation of it, while doing so. With renting, you are in an 'all you can eat' situation and just keep, in my opinion, 'stealing' the trick explinations as quickly as you can post one back and get another. Notice that with these sites they tend to hide behind an email address. With no telephone or event an address ( other than a box number) Not the actions of companies that I personally would trust my credit card number or bank details with.
MagicShop.co.uk - The Merchant of Magic
Free Ebook: Approaching Magic Practice. Free Ebook: Why Magicians Don't Get the Fee's They Feel They Deserve Free Ebook: How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Performing Magic to your Family and Friends |
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Dominic Reyes Inner circle Got to a gig too early so wrote his 1429 Posts |
I wonder how any magic company that does not care AT ALL how many magicians it offends, including most of the top performers worldwide, can care about its customers?
MagicShop.co.uk - The Merchant of Magic
Free Ebook: Approaching Magic Practice. Free Ebook: Why Magicians Don't Get the Fee's They Feel They Deserve Free Ebook: How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Performing Magic to your Family and Friends |
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edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Quote:
I wonder how any magic company that does not care AT ALL how many magicians it offends, including most of the top performers worldwide, can care about its customers? Are you talking about the Magic Castle or the other company?
Magic is a vanishing art.
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Gordon Bean V.I.P. 103 Posts |
(Posted this in the other thread on this topic.)
Just to keep the facts straight: The Magic Castle library does not lend out books or DVDs. Material may only be read or viewed in the library during its scheduled hours. |
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Dominic Reyes Inner circle Got to a gig too early so wrote his 1429 Posts |
Hi Gordon
Thanks for the clarification. My post was in responce to a previous post stating that it did. I'm sure the Magic Castle acts in a fully responsible manner. I'm glad that this is the case, as I have to say I was suprised by the original posts claim. Hi edh I'm refering to companies that rent out magic DVDs for profit, without the concent of the creator, and ignore the NON FOR RENTAL cleary on the cover. Its these companies that I ask : How any magic company that does not care AT ALL how many magicians it offends, including most of the top performers worldwide, can care about its customers?
MagicShop.co.uk - The Merchant of Magic
Free Ebook: Approaching Magic Practice. Free Ebook: Why Magicians Don't Get the Fee's They Feel They Deserve Free Ebook: How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Performing Magic to your Family and Friends |
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edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Quote:
Just to keep the facts straight: The Magic Castle library does not lend out books or DVDs. Material may only be read or viewed in the library during its scheduled hours. Mr. Bean, thanks for the clarification. I also posted this in another thread. Other than the hours of availability and the location how does this differ from what the company under discussion does? Quote:
Thanks for the clarification. My post was in responce to a previous post stating that it did. I'm sure the Magic Castle acts in a fully responsible manner. I'm glad that this is the case, as I have to say I was suprised by the original posts claim. Domenic, please explain how the MC acts in a "fully responsible manner". How is this different from what this company does? I don't believe the Magic Castle is a non-profit organization. I may be wrong, and if so please correct me.
Magic is a vanishing art.
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JohnEBlaze New user Maitland, FL 66 Posts |
This isn't right, magic DVDs aren't films or TV shows. Period.
Why is this industry constantly making it harder for the most creative among them to make a living? |
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Magic Spank Veteran user Las Vegas 320 Posts |
Still, not one of you has stated a reason why this is unethical. Beyond the thought that the DVD could be copied, or that you are buying the DVD just to learn the secret to the trick.
Neither is the case really. If you are buying just to learn the bare bones modus operandi that is not what the business should be about anyway. And how many of you could really copy a DVD if you wanted to? It's not so easy. This isn't the 80's where you could hook up 2 VCRs together and make a pure copy. Copying a DVD takes some effort. You have to break more than one law to get the sucker onto your drive. No matter how hot your avatar may be Randi I have to strike you down on this point unless you can present a real reason why this is unethical. Not to single you out, but I did click through to your myspace page and noticed you are wearing knee high socks and well... whatever. So you got my attention. At least one person here has expressed the same view as me, that in the end I'd rather own a good DVD. Regarding the ethics involved in this it appears that most people are assuming that the DVD rental will allow easy copying. How may of you really can copy a DVD? And if you can digest the info in just a few days, was it worth purchasing anyway? I just don't see anything wrong with it because it does parallel the music and movie industry. Yeah, there's a secret involved. There is an ending in every movie too that you don't know before you see it. That doesn't mean you won't want to watch it again. A really good video will be bought. Christina Aguilara puts her videos out for on demand viewing because they're so darn good that you're going to buy the CD. Not everyone can do that.. cuz they mostly suck. This will separate the wheat from the chaff. Nothing wrong with that. I have to ask again though... How may of you really can copy a DVD? |
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disneywld Special user Denver, CO 614 Posts |
The Linking Ring January 2008 issue, page 31, offered an apology and admits that they were tricked into accepting the ad. Good job IBM.
Magic Spank asks, "How many of you can copy a DVD" I can, it is very easy. I don't, it is very wrong. My question is that I have a library card and obtain books, videos and recordings free of charge. Other people's copyrighted works. I can have them for weeks. What is the difference? I find magic rental services unethical - is it because I know some of the performers and the hard work involved? Maybe I'd feel differently about libraries if I had dinner with Clive Cussler.
The Magic of Christopher Manos
www.christophermanos.com |
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